DailyTech reported in early June that Honda's newly redesigned Accord would receive a diesel engine. Honda today confirmed that the 2009 Honda Accord would be available with an optional 2.2 liter i-CTDi 4-cylinder Tier 2 Bin 5 diesel engine.

The diesel engine is reported to produce in excess of 150 HP, while torque -- always a diesel strength -- is pegged at 260 lb-ft. The diesel will be emissions legal in all 50 states and is set to deliver real word fuel economy in excess of 40 MPG.

If the fuel economy estimates pass the Environmental Protection Agency's testing, that would make the diesel Accord more fuel efficient than the previous generation Accord Hybrid and Toyota's current Camry Hybrid.

In addition to the diesel news, Honda also announced that the CR-Z hybrid concept will make it to production. The small two-seater uses the same powertrain as the Civic Hybrid (4-cylinder gasoline engine, Integrated Motor Assist and CVT) and is likely to better its 40 MPG/45 MPG city/highway EPA ratings.

Due to supply and demand curves, the cost of a bushel of corn will skyrocket if everyone decides to do that. Ethanol is now barely profitable, despite heavy federal subsides, because of the very same effect.

It is projected that for us to use corn as fuel, we would have to use all of the land in the mainland United States to do it and that is not counting the fact that there are mountains, deserts, roads, etcetera on which people will not be able to grow corn. If there was a year-round growing season like the one Al Gore is predicting, then this might be feasible, provided all of our forest and farmland are replaced with corn fields and we stop eating.